I believed that my Memorial Day trip to Arlington National Cemetery would be a relatively quick evolution. I did not want to get caught in the midst of the Presidential motorcade arriving or departing, so I planned to place the bouquets of flowers, say the appropriate prayers, and return home before the predicted rainstorms. My bouquets placed and my prayers said, I put away my things to prepare to leave Section 60 once again. However, a woman softly weeping before marker number 7968 caught my attention, and I felt compelled to check on her.

Torn between feelings of intrusiveness and helplessness, I asked her if she needed any assistance. She looked up and simply said, “This is my son.” I circled the marker to join her on the ground and saw that the headstone belonged to CWO2 Ian Desmond Manuel, United States Army. The picture in the midst of a wreath of red, white, and blue flowers showed a smiling young man in a flight suit. Once I was sitting next to her, she introduced herself Tita Derrow of Chesapeake, VA and began to tell me about her son. He was a Blackhawk pilot who was killed with eight fellow Soldiers when their helicopter was shot down during a Medevac mission outside of Fallujah on 8 January 2004. She told me about how she begged him to leave the Army to do something safer, but he always told her that he wanted nothing more than to lead his Soldiers during war.

After leaving Tita, I turned and met the parents of LCpl Lawrence Robert Philippon, United States Marine Corps. LCpl Philippon was killed during a raid in Al Anbar Province on 8 May 2005. His mother and father spoke to me about how proud they are of “Larry”. He was part of Marine Corps Barracks 8th & I’s Silent Drill Team, and he served as a Guidon Bearer for President Ronald Reagan’s funeral procession. After about 10 minutes of conversation, LCpl Philippon’s mother hugged me and thanked me for remembering and visiting those who had given their lives, and his father followed suit after further conversation.

It was an overwhelming moment because I feel as though I have done so little to show my appreciation for America’s fallen men and women and their families. Saying thank you to these families seemed so trite and almost pathetic on my part, but each of these survivors welcomed my sentiment, my tears, and my thanks.

I met remarkable survivors in every direction I turned. Xiomara Mena’s son Cpl. Andy Anderson, United States Army, was killed 6 June 2006. Xiomara not only is a Gold Star Mother having lost a son in service to the United States but also a Blue Star Mother having twin sons currently serving together in Afghanistan. This family has an undeniable sense of patriotism and duty to country.

Walking through Section 60, I saw markers with the Christian Cross, the Star of David, and the crescent moon and star. America has lost men and women of all faiths, races, and ethnicities in our current conflicts, and all of our Armed Forces members (both living and deceased) deserve our respect and appreciation.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing I take away from today’s visit was the sense of community and camaraderie these survivors have formed amongst each other. It would be impossible to understand their loss, but we, as a country, can never lose sight of those we have lost in service to America. Regardless of who they were in life, in death, they and their families deserve to be commended for their sacrifice.

On Memorial Day, I went to Arlington National Cemetery to visit a few old friends. Little did I know, I would leave with many more friends to visit in the future.